GUITAR SCHOOL OFFERS 12 WEEK COURSE

One of the commonest questions IN TUNE gets asked is how readers can learn about guitar making. Well, a possible answer has just come to our notice. It's the Totnes School of Guitar Making, down in sunny Devon.

Run by luthier Norman Reed, the fulltime course lasts for 12 weeks and covers acoustic guitar types only, but including steel strung, classical, flamenco and renaissance lutes. Students don't need any previous experience, and during their stay will make one of the types listed above. Obviously, some skill with one's hands is required, but each pupil gets their own workspace, a suitable workboard or mould, tools and material so that they can start work immediately. Group teaching on the principles and methods involved plus individual guidance is given where needed. Subjects covered include design, selection of materials, care and maintenance of tools, jigs and devices, instrument construction, setting-up, finishing and polishing. Those with previous guitar making experience can also register to follow an advanced project of their own.

The fee for the course is £895, which includes all materials, tuition, use of tools etc.

IN TUNE would like to hear from any readers who've been on the course, or who take it up, as it sounds like a fascinating project. Meanwhile, details can be obtained from the Totnes School of Guitar Making, (Contact Details).

Jack & John go for Warwick

Having Jack Bruce and John Entwistle among your customers says a lot for any bass, so welcome to West German craftsman bass builders Warwick, whose instruments are now available in the UK via The Bass Centre. Two active models are currently available, the £795 Streamer Bass and at £895 'The Thumb Bass'.

Both Warwick basses are in the luxury materials class, featuring Wenge fingerboards (on fretted) and Ebony boards (on fretless models) with hardware from a variety of top sources; EMG pickups (with options of Duncan and Bartolinis), Schaller bridges and machines etc. The Streamer has a 24 fret Wenge/Maple neck straight through a body of American Cherry, while the smaller bodied Thumb Bass has a solid Bubinga body.

We'll be reviewing a Warwick bass in the near future; meanwhile you can get more details direct from The Bass Centre, (Contact Details).

RAK OFFER LOW COST AMPS

IN TUNE readers into assembling their own PA systems and other such packages requiring power amps should make a point of checking out the latest offerings from RAK Electronics. Both MOS-FET and conventional bi-polar tranny power amps are being supplied, most of them at what look like absurdly low prices! A mere £19.95, for example, buys you the RAK kit-version MOS-FET MF150, which will deliver 150 watts RMS into 4 Ohms and boasts specs, including 'a THD better than 0.002% at max. power, frequency response ranging from 15Hz-30kHz, signal to noise ratio 120dB plus' and so on.

Available in both kit (as detailed above) and ready-assembled and tested versions, the new RAK range also includes their new MOS-FET MF300-350 which delivers 300 watts into 4 Ohms and comes in two models, one for monitoring purposes, the other for PA uses. A stereo version of this amp (comprising twin MF300-350 units) comes ready-built and tested in a 19" rack mounted unit and costs just £375.50.

RAK's series of kit and ready-made power amp modules in MOS-FET form comes in several versions, offering outputs from 150-500 watts RMS while their less costly bi-polar types run from 150-300 watts output. Both types can be bridged to mono uses — the MOS-FET MF500, for example, delivers 1,200 watts when used thus.

Also offered by RAK are both crossover and pre-amp units, again in kit or ready-made form, and selling at equally low prices.

Available both via selected music shops and direct from the makers, more details of the range can be obtained from RAK Electronics, (Contact Details).

GIANT STEPP...

A mysterious news release landed on the Editor's desk recently, concerning the new UK designed and made Stepp DG1 guitar. At the same time, our advertisement department received copy for the advert(s) which appear inside this issue. Quite genuinely, numerous attempts to elicit further details from the guitar's manufacturers, other than that contained in their release, have come to nothing. In fact, we're as baffled as you are — we're as excited, too!

Pending further details from Stepp, all we can do is repeat exactly what their news release said, and wait to see what happens from there! Here goes...

'July 4th. 1986, London. Stepp, a London-based design company, announce the development of the world's first digital guitar. Entirely researched, funded, designed and manufactured in the UK, the Stepp DG-1 has its own sounds, is fully programmable and in addition both full MIDI specs, with 'Out', 'Thru' and — for the first time on a guitar — MIDI in. The DG-1 is the first music industry product from Stepp, and is the result of four years' research and development, and an investment of £1.5 million.

Further details from the Stepp Information Department on (Contact Details).'

4 Fostex, 2 Seck in Bandive New Gear Spree

Four reel to reel recorders have been announced by Fostex in their new fully microprocessor function controlled E Series. All use the large NAB tape spools and their details include time/speed display, three motor operation, locate functions, 'edit' and 'spooling' modes.

Two of the newcomers (the E2 and the E22) are stereo recorders, both with third (centre) tracks for SMPTE time code recording as standard. The 'synchroniset' port is compatible with all synchronisers, including Fostex's own 4030. The difference between the two models is that the E2 runs 7½/15 ips on 1/4" tape, while the E22 offers the more professional mastering spec of 15/30ips operation on 1/2" tape.

Also new is Fostex's E8, which offers 8-track operation on 1/4" tape and much longer recording time than previous 7" tape spool using Fostex machines. It also features the renowned Dolby C noise reduction system.

The premium new Fostex is the E16, which directly replaces the much-loved B16, the machine that proved you could record 16 tracks successfully on 1/2" tape. Now comes the E Series E16, offering the all new deck functions of this range plus Dolby C. It's bound to be another winner.

Two new Seck mixers have also just been launched, the 242 and the 1282. The 242 is a 24 channel stereo mixer offering long throw faders, wide range inputs, sweep Eq and four Aux busses. The Seck 1282 introduces a new colour to the Seck range — black. More importantly, it's really a stripped-down version of the renowned 1882. It has the same in-line monitor, extensive Eq and Aux features, only the number of channels having been reduced along with the omission of the 16 track routing. Expect an 'interesting' lower price! According to Bandive, all Seck mixers are 'sturdily constructed on plated through fibreglass boards, and are enclosed in custom extruded alloy shells'. More details on Fostex and Seck from Bandive Ltd., (Contact Details).

IT Winner Snaps Up Alligator Prize

We're getting used to receiving vast numbers of entries for our free competitions, but the response to Issue 8's WIN AN ALLIGATOR 175 BASS COMBO special was overwhelming! Judging from the hundreds of IT readers who were trying for this prize, it seems we're not alone in our enthusiasm for this excellent range of gear.

This time around we had a winner from the East of England, long-time IT reader Jonathan Morris of Mildenhall, Suffolk. Jonathan has been in touch with us since receiving his super-quality Alligator A175 bass combo and tells us that he's absolutely delighted with the sound he's getting from it. The only problem is that he now seems to be in danger of drowning out his lead guitarist!

Our congratulations go to Jonathan on his success and, of course, our thanks to the many hundreds of readers who entered this competition. For the record, here are the answers to the 5 questions we posed you.

1) The Alligator A175 Bass combo is fan-cooled. Answer TRUE.
2) The Alligator A175 features an FX send and return circuit. Answer TRUE.
3) Alligator amps are made in Great Britain. Answer A
4) The Alligator A175 uses valves instead of transistors. Answer FALSE.
5) The Alligator A175 combo weighs 501bs. Answer C.

So there you are, another lucky IT reader wins a superb competition prize — and all for the cost of a 17p stamp! Don't forget we've got two free entry competition in this issue, so why not have a go and enter? It could be your turn this time round!

Finally, the many hundreds of correct entries we've received to Issue 9's AUDIO-TECHNICA and KMD competitions are still being sifted for our draw of these fabulous prizes, so the announcement of the winning entries will follow in our next issue. Watch out for it!

MIDI Guitars from DOD/IVL

The race to produce the ideal MIDI guitar system gathers speed! In addition to the Ibanez and Shadow systems (see this issue's review on Shadow) plus the new Roland add-on and the Stepp guitar, comes a deal between Dod and Canadians IVL which will result in the availability of the long-awaited 'Pitch Rider' system in the UK. The full range of IVL systems are now to be known as Dod 'MIDI Masters'. Obviously, we'll keep you posted on availability and specifications as soon as possible.

You can get info on all Dod products by contacting their UK importers. Rhino Distribution, at (Contact Details).

Rapiers Go Shergold

Now in official semi-retirement (but seeming to be as busy making guitars as ever) Jack Golder has recently turned his hand to custom building definitive replicas of 1960s guitars. One of Jack's most impressed customers are Sixties rockers 'The Rapiers', who recently took delivery of some hand made specials fashioned on the lines of the lamented Burns Bisons.

Two guitars and a bass have been made for The Rapiers, equipped with Fender pickups and trems and using the later Burns-type volume and tone controls. Unlike fire original Bison with its blue tortoiseshell pickguard, the Rapiers' specials have brown tortoiseshell types plus enlarged 'scroll' headstocks.

Readers into 60s music should check out The Rapiers, while any player looking for a genuine hand-built Jack Golder replica can reach him at Shergold Guitars, (Contact Details).

Drummers Inc. Hits 1st Year

Drummers Incorporated, the 'percussion mafia' 200-plus strong organisation for skin-bashers, has just reached its first birthday, which was celebrated by a members' visit to the Simmons factory. Drummers Inc., the UK's leading organisation for drummers, is run by Leicester-based Tony Bingham and is a mutual self-help outfit which features some very illustrious names among its organisers including Simon Phillips as Hon. President and Vice Presidents Brian Bennett, Robbie France, Lloyd Ryan and Roger Horrobin. With a regular newsletter, drum clinics, factory visits and other events planned for the near future, Drummers Incorporated looks like being worth any percussion-playing IT reader's attention. You can get more details by sending an SAE to Tony Bingham, Director, Drummers Incorporated, (Contact Details).

STOP PRESS PEAVEY!

Just as this issue was going to press we learned from Peavey what they'll be unveiling during the British Music Fair on their stand no. G-10/8.

Star of the show could well be their new Megabass; a rack mounted bass amp featuring two 200 watt versions of Peavey's revolutionary DECA 'Digital Energy Conversion' power amps. The Megabass also offers a variable Xover, suiting it for full bi-amping use. Add to that sophisticated pre-amp controls with a stereo chorus, and you have another potential world-beater from Peavey. Demoing the Megabass on Peavey's stand, by the way, will be one of the UK's finest bass players, Colin Hodgkinson!

Also for bassists will be several new Peavey basses,including the 'Nitro' bass, a 5-string model and a new 'Foundation' bass. Look out, too, for the ProBass 1000 rack mounted pre-amp and two new speaker systems, the 215D and 415-Sub.

Guitarists will have the Programax to drool over (see this issue's review) plus a 15 watt battery/mains combo called The Companion. Apparently we can expect the low RRP of £79.95 for this one, as well as the KB-15 version designed for use with small keyboards.

Finally, listen for new PA gear from the men from Mississippi. The MS1221 and 1621 mixers (in 12 and 16 channel versions) are going, we're told, to incorporate the sort of features only found on large pro desks until recently. Several new 3-way speaker systems will also be displayed, including the 3020HT and 1510HT, the Series III International enclosures, the 315S and a new Continental model. Expect all these to be joined by several other 'secret' items, with the addition of a new MIDI FX processor, the PEP 4000 and new mike models.

More details from Peavey Electronics (UK) Ltd., (Contact Details).

ASHBORY NICKERS!

Watch out for anyone trying to offer you a dark green Ashbory bass, serial number 027 — it's stolen property!

The bass (a development of the revolutionary Ashbory which we reviewed in 9) was stolen from Ashworth's display at the Wandsworth Weekend (July 12th & 13th) and is the only one of its kind. Any reader being offered this instrument should either contact their local police station or get in touch either with IN TUNE (who'll pass on your message) or Al Jones at Ashworth Transducers, (Contact Details).

KEYFAX 2 FOR AUGUST LAUNCH

IT keyboard scribe Julian Colbeck has the second edition of his definitive 'KEYFAX' guide to electronic keyboards published on August 21st. Designed to be an annual up-date on the lightning-fast changing world of electronic keyboards, Keyfax started life last year and received an enthusiastic reception from musicians, retailers, manufacturers and studios who, like us, appreciated Julian's 'mini-review' format on every keyboard then available.

This year's edition has been considerably expanded and contains some 300 keyboard reviews, covering (in sections) mono synths, pianos and organs, poly synths, keyboard samples, home keyboards and multi-instrument keyboards.

Keyfax isn't just a source of reviews though, because Julian has also compiled an invaluable reference source section, with charts of recording software and instrument voice libraries etc.

Keyfax 2 is published by Virgin Books, and readers should be able to get copies from many music shops or any decent bookshop. The price? A trifling £6.99.

VESTA & DYNAMIC FROM ARBITER

Formerly distributed by MTR, the importation of Vesta-Fire recording and FX equipment has recently been taken over by John & Ivor Arbiter Ltd. We also understand that they are to be handling both Dynamix and RAM mixers henceforth.

Vesta-Fire, RAM and Dynamix products will be on the Arbiter stand (1-120) at the British Music Fair.

More details from John & Ivor Arbiter Ltd., JVC House, (Contact Details).

TRACE LAUNCH MARK V

Bass amp masters Trace Elliot have just released details of their new Mark V series of amps. Although similar to previous 'TEs', the Mark Vs have undergone what amount to mostly detail changes — but what details!

Among developments now featured are footswitching in/out of the graphics and pre-shape (with a 'virtually indestructible' footswitch and a 6 metre cable), graphic level slider, improved noise reduction, improved UV illumination, upgraded circuitry throughout the range, and extension speaker facilities on all combo models. Manufacturers Soundwave also claim that the Mark Vs are built to a higher standard. Hot stuff, eh?

More on Trace Elliot from Soundwave at (Contact Details).